Ask your cooperating teacher about their class policies. How do they introduce their policies and enforce them throughout the year? Obtain a copy of any handouts about policies or safety from the first week of class.
Observations:
I was able to learn a lot about Mrs. Brocato's class by the two periods that I observed today. The kids come in and know exactly what they have to do because there is a list on the white board of things that they need to do before the lesson starts. This includes writing down tonight's homework, taking out their homework from last night, answering a brief journal question, setting up their table for their lab today, recording the grades in their agenda, and filing their graded papers away. Mrs. Brocato went around and stamped their agendas to check that they did this. As far as class policies and expectations, the team has a website that posts all of the rules that were reviewed at the beginning of the year. She also has a separate set of lab safety rules that are in the form of a contract that the students and their parents sign. Mrs. Brocato also gave me some other handouts that she uses to start the year including her grading criteria, rubrics, and a list of "What to do when there is nothing to do." It was clear to me that he students knew the policies of her classroom and it was also evident that she held high expectations for her students.
Reflections:
Mrs. Brocato was extremely friendly, giving me a tour of the school and introducing me to everyone that we walked by. She is unbelievably organized and encourages her students to keep organized and on top of their work. She has them write one formal lab report each quarter and she breaks up the lab so that they write a part of it each week, or after each lesson and them compile the report at the end. I also notice that she does not have to talk about rules that often in her classroom. The students seem to have a clear understanding of how they are expected to act during lab. My first day in the middle school was a great experience and I am looking forward to going back next week.
Class Topic: General Science Grade: 7 Observed by: Beth McArdle
Observation/Reflection #0: Class Policies
Ask your cooperating teacher about their class policies. How do they introduce their policies and enforce them throughout the year? Obtain a copy of any handouts about policies or safety from the first week of class.Observations:
I was able to learn a lot about Mrs. Brocato's class by the two periods that I observed today. The kids come in and know exactly what they have to do because there is a list on the white board of things that they need to do before the lesson starts. This includes writing down tonight's homework, taking out their homework from last night, answering a brief journal question, setting up their table for their lab today, recording the grades in their agenda, and filing their graded papers away. Mrs. Brocato went around and stamped their agendas to check that they did this. As far as class policies and expectations, the team has a website that posts all of the rules that were reviewed at the beginning of the year. She also has a separate set of lab safety rules that are in the form of a contract that the students and their parents sign. Mrs. Brocato also gave me some other handouts that she uses to start the year including her grading criteria, rubrics, and a list of "What to do when there is nothing to do." It was clear to me that he students knew the policies of her classroom and it was also evident that she held high expectations for her students.Reflections:
Mrs. Brocato was extremely friendly, giving me a tour of the school and introducing me to everyone that we walked by. She is unbelievably organized and encourages her students to keep organized and on top of their work. She has them write one formal lab report each quarter and she breaks up the lab so that they write a part of it each week, or after each lesson and them compile the report at the end. I also notice that she does not have to talk about rules that often in her classroom. The students seem to have a clear understanding of how they are expected to act during lab. My first day in the middle school was a great experience and I am looking forward to going back next week.Class Topic: General Science
Grade: 7
Observed by: Beth McArdle